1 June 2015

This week let's start with some funny stories. 

One night I had to sleep on the floor and I was getting attacked by a cockroach for most of the night. That was pretty exciting. I didn't want to wake anyone up, so I just kept trying to move away from it. I thought it was pretty funny. I was laughing to myself :) hahah

Another funny story: so we have borrachos a lot (borrachos are drunk men) and they can be pretty funny as long as you don't spend a lot of time with them. Don't worry, I don't!!!! but we were trying to talk to an antiguo investigador, but she wasn't there, so I asked the two guys sitting on the porch if they knew when she would be back. One man who was suuuuuuper drunk, didn't believe we spoke spanish for a while so he was trying to do actions. Ella fue a LUNCH. (miming with eating) and so I said Ella fue a comer, verdad? He was so surprised. He told me, "Soy de Guatemala como su accento. Muy bien. (and keep in mind he is saying this while he is seriously about to pass out. I could barely stop myself from laughing) and then I told them we needed to go, but to tell Christina that we would come by another day, and the man told me. "No puedo escuchar hoy pero algun dia vas a entrar mi corazon." So basically one day I will enter his heart. How nice. We left right after that, but he was very interesting. Hopefully that doesn't freak you out mom :) I promise, we're super safe!!!!!

Want to know an amazing thing that happened!? Claro que si!!! So at church yesterday Hermano Jaime (acaba de bautizarse and the guy I found) and he asked me to go and sit by him. So I did. and he started talking to me and he just told me thanks. He said thanks for finding me. I was lost and I was drowning and you found me and saved me. He told Presidente Allred about how I found him for the first time and how he was drinking and how he found the strength to stop after I found him and then we taught him the first lesson. How amazing. Although I haven't had a 'baptism', I still am helping people change their lives and come unto Christ. and that's why I'm here. :) Jaime really helped me feel better and focus on what's truly importante!!!

We had the most amazing lesson with Hermano Jorge. We decided to have it at the church last minute because we just felt prompted. So we went and we talked to him about the interview that he is preparing for because he's really scared about that. We went over the questions, and he felt better about it, and our member, Hermano Favio bore a really strong testimony and helped calm his fears because he went through it a little bit ago! But as we went over the questions, he still said he wasn't sure about Joseph Smith. Thankfully, we had planned for this! We brought the Restoration video and we began to watch. As Joseph Smith started to go to the grove, Jorge started to cry. The Spirit was so strong. I really felt as if I could touch it! The video ended, and Jorge said he still wasn't sure. The Spirit got even stronger and I testified Joseph Smith truly was a prophet and he can know right now if he kneels down and prays. So he knelt down and prayed. After he finished he stayed kneeling and cried. His answer came undeniably strong. I have never felt the Spirit so strong in my life. We are still working with him to get his interview, but that will be an experience that he can't deny, and neither can I. It was such a miracle and blessing to see! My testimony was strengthened bastante!! 

The mission is the best!!! I absolutely love it!!!! I can't believe how much I have changed and how many miracles I've seen! Including with Spanish. Whoa. One of our recent converts, Favio told me that he was amazed that my Spanish has just taken off as soon as I finished training. Seriously, Heavenly Father has helped me so much because I could not do anything without Him!! and I needed to learn because well, I'm Senior comp, this is my area, and My comp and I haven't been out for too long. crazzzzzy. :) 

LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!! Have the best week ever!!!!!!

27 May 2015

Pues esta semana era poquita interesante. We are totally having a baptism this weekend though. Our investigator Jorge is praying about Jose Smith because that is the only thing holding him back. He just needs to know and then he will be able to be baptized!!! He is the coolest!!!!

Okay well anyways, I can't believe how hard it is to remember what happened this past week. I write it all in my journal, but when it comes to writing an email to y'all (see I said y'all. I am totally Texan hahahaha) I can't think of a thing!!

One super awesome miracle that happened was we had an activity with our Rama and a lot of our recent converts and investigators came! It was for el dia de las madres (Mother's day) a little late I know. But it was the best!!! The food was delicious. We had carne asada, lots of chicken, rice (obviuosly) tortillas (otra vez obviously) and other random stuff. DELICIOUS! Me encanta comida!! Es un problema. I got to go around and talk to a ton of people and get to know the members better, which was a big miracle. I needed to go and to talk to them, so they know that I really just want to help them, ya know? They're awesome. I love them all!!! Then they had a dance party. (which by the way is really hard not to dance. I miss it!!) but one of our investigators, Jorge--the same one who will be getting baptized soon!!!--got so into it! He loved it! It was awesome to see him getting along well with the ward. (pictures attached below.)

Jorge is seriously so prepared. He wants to do what's right and he really want to know which church is the true church of Jesus Christ. It's amazing to see. I really haven't done anything. Heavenly Father just blessed us to have him as an investigator. Yessssssss.

The weather has been INSANE!!!! We have had warning of flash floods and giant rainstorms. As we were driving to the temple the water was halfway up the car!! So fun :) I love it!!! It makes it very exciting to bike (since we've been biking a lot) and when we're driving too. We're super careful though. No se preocupen. 

We had an amazing temple trip!!! We got to do a session with Presidente Ashton and Sister Ashton and then have a talk with them and the temple president!! They are amazing!!! They are working so hard and you can just feel the spirit they have. I learned sooooooooo much about who we are and sacrifice and consecration. I would encourage you all to study true identity. It really changes your perspective and increases your desire to change and become what God truly has planned for you. Wow. My mind. If you need some scriptures, I can send you some to study :) ahhahaha (I'm making you be like my investigators :) ) but seriously super good.

I have come to love the scriptures and words of the prophets tons!!! All I want to study is all of that stuff. I have learned so much and I want to keep learning things of the gospel for the rest of my life. which I will. because one really good quote from last conference (I might have already shared this with you) RM doesn't mean Retired-Mormon. Yessss!!! We need to keep moving forward and keep doing what God wants us to do. He wants us to be happy, so if we do God's will, we will be happy:) 

I get to teach English class and it is the best!!!!!!! They are sooooo cool!!!! We keep getting more and more people there. It has helped us find people to teach. BLESSING!!!!

There are so many blessing and miracles from God. I can't believe how merciful He is. 

I love you all SO MUCH!!!! FAMILIES ARE FOREVER!!!!! LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU!!!!! :):):):):)

18 May 2015

Hey familia!!! so Jorge came to church!!!! We had tons of miracles this week!!! It was such a good week!!!!!

Primeramente, I think I am finally getting used to being in charge and having people's salvation on my shoulders. Thank goodness. God has seriously been helping me out with that! and I know that if I do my best, God will do the rest :) (My branch president told me that) 

This week has been super busy. We had an amazing zone conference all on the Sabbath day because that is the hardest thing to get people to do. Man. It drives me a little crazy. I will keep working and praying that it will all be okay though. A ver :) Tengo la fe! 

Okay so we have an investigator preparing for baptism and he's super cool!!! His name is Jorge and he is so prepared. I really haven't done anything. He wanted to go to church before we even invited him (we actually found him because he came to church) he comes to soccer on Friday nights, he accepted baptism, he wants to learn the commandments so he can follow them...what more can I say!? He's totally getting baptized soon!!!!! Yes!!!!!!

Hermana Judith is progressing too. She hasn't accepted a date, but she keeps saying she notices something different about us, and she knows one day she will want to be a part of the church and be baptized. I'll just keep praying for her. 

Hmmmm que mas.... I don't even know what else happened really. I just know it was a super good week. One fun thing is we have to bike a ton, like 30 miles a day. sweeeeeeeeet :) okay, that's only some days, some days its only 15. Not too bad. I'm gonna be super fit when I get home. Yes. watch out :) and I found out that apparently I bike really quick because I keep having to stop and wait for people, so we can be in sight and sound. Sometimes that is kind of frustrating. Pero no importa! 

One thing I've discovered and I'm still learning is that things won't go as planned, but if you focus on the positive it will all work out!! It's so much better if you see the good things. and if anything happens, well, I can either have a good story to learn from it. Sweeeeet! Definitely learning to trust in God :) 

Love you all so much!!! Have an amazing week!!! Let me know of anything exciting that happens!!!

11 May 2015

Hello everyone! IT WAS SOOOOOO GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL :):):) I hope it was equally a pleasure for you! (said with a british accent) anyway, did you think it was funny that I wanted to end with a spiritual thought? I thought that would surprise you! but I really just wanted to say I love you and that families are FOREVER. which means you're stuck with me forever :):):):) hahahahahahahahaha, hopefully that's more of a blessing than a punishment ;) I'm funny. 

Funny story: so people freak out that I am blonde. and I am not even that blonde. but I was teaching a lesson the other day and a lady who wasn't a member started freaking out that I was speaking Spanish. She said 'wow, you can speak Spanish!? Can I record you?' she got her phone out and recorded me teaching and said yes, I love seeing a blondie speak Spanish. super funny. 

Pues, I don't have ton to say. We are working to get our investigators to church. Man, who knew that would be the hardest thing EVER! I just want them to come to church, but they are either tired or working or just don't want to. Meh. Although granted, I didn't realize how important it was, but now I do, so I'm trying to save them from the mistakes I made! We have the knowledge and we are trying to stress how important it is, pero ellos no quieren escuchar! Ay. but I'm just praying suuuper duro que they're going to have their hearts softened. Espero que sea pronto. 

Anyone who is reading this who went on a mission and has any advice for how to get people to church and understand the importance of it, lemme know :) or  let my family know and then they will tell me! (hopefully that doesn't sound too weird)

You know what is weird? Hermana Huntsman isn't my companion anymore. WHAAAAAT. Change is weird, but it's going to help both of us grow and improve ourselves. :) It's kind of exciting (and a little bit--or really--overwhelming) to be in charge because EVERYONE'S salvation is in my hands--okay our hands, but since I know the area and the people, a huge part is me. :) hahah but I know that I have God's grace and He will help me because He wants these people to have the Gospel. 

but really THE MISSION IS THE BEST!!!!! I LOVE IT!!!!! There are so many people and places and things and I have never been so close to the Spirit in my life. It's a super wonderful feeling. I never want to lose it :) one thing I have been thinking a lot about it perserverar hasta el fin (or in English) enduring to the end. There is a really good and blunt scripture that says if we do not endure to the end, we will not be saved. Clear and simple. We have to keep ALL the commandments for the rest of our lives and for eternity. Is it easy? No. Is it worth it? YES! 

So keep going forward! If you have the Gospel, siga adelante! (keep going forward) NEVER give up!! Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are there for you. Do the basics: read, pray, go to Church and those will give you the strength to do what God needs and wants you to do, which ultimately will lead you to happiness. :) 

LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!! SHARE THE GOSPEL!!!! BE MEMBER MISSIONARIES! PREPARE FOR MISSIONS NOW!! LOVE EVERYONE! :):):):)

MISS AND LOVE YOU!!!!!!

5 May 2015

So this week has not been perfect. For some weird reason, people just haven't wanted to keep their commitments! Ay. Which is SO sad because this is their salvation and the way to happiness! They can't truly have joy without the gospel. There's temporary 'happiness' of the world or we can have eternal joy now and para siempre. I think i'd choose joy pero not everyone understands it. We will keep working though! 

Life on the mission is the best. Definitely a roller coaster of emotions, but when you see people improving and changing their life for the Gospel. Whew. It's awesome! Coming unto Christ changes your life. 

MISS AND LOVE YOU!!! :) 

27 April 2015

okay funniest thing ever! we have this recent convert, his name is Hermano Chavez and he's 87 years old. and he loves it when we sing to him. So we tried, but we just started laughing, so he stopped us and said, no. I will sing for you. He just starts singing like opera style. SUPER funny and it was like the cutest thing ever!! hahaha 

Although we didn't get the baptism we were thinking we could have, we did have Jaime's baptism!! He is sooooooo cool! He's the one I told you about in the other email. He's such a good guy and he really wants to do what's right. He biked like 20 miles just to get to his baptism and church because he doesn't have a car. Wow. He is super committed! 

We have been having super good lessons lately. and in some we've been super fuerte. Sometimes you have to be really tough and let them know hey you have to follow this commandment, but we try to do it with love too. because that's how it works best. 

One really amazing thing that happened is that we were role playing for one of our investigators who we were going to invite to be baptized and as we were doing it the Spirit was so strong. I seriously felt this joy in my heart that I can't explain. We just knew that he was going to accept. So that night we invited him and he said he felt really good about it and he was willing to do what it took to change. How amazing is that! He should get baptized super soon :) we're hoping this week if that's what the Lord wants! 

Ooooo Grandma will love this!!! I found 15 names that I am taking to the temple with our recent converts!!!!! How amazing!!!!! I can do the women and then all of our recent converts are going to do the men. In that case it's nice that our recent converts are all men hahaha :)

The mission brings such a joy and love of people and the gospel. I can't even explain it to you. I love it so much. I know I'm changing as a person and I get to see others completely change their lives and do what God wants. This really is the work of salvation and I am willing to do whatever God needs me to do to help people come unto Christ and have the misma felicidad que tenemos. We are truly so blessed to have the gospel in our lives. Everyone needs it. They might think they don't, but they do. Every person you pass on the street, in your work, everywhere they need the peace and truth that comes with the Gospel. Never forget that :) 

I love you all with all of my heart!!! Never give up on your faith! Remember that God loves you no matter what. But it's up to us to work to feel that love. because only the Spirit can bring the love of God. entonces to feel that, we have to be worthy and be keeping the commandments. It can be hard, but as we do it, our lives will be so much better because God knows best and He can help us so much more than anyone or anything else.

LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU!!!! I can't believe we'll be talking next month!!! craaaaaazy :)

20 April 2015

Guess who it is again! ME :) how are you all? How's the weather? Michelle sent me a picture of it snowing, so I'm guessing it's a little cold. Here it has been beautiful! I have the worst tan lines ever... it's super funny. Lauren, I know you'll make fun of me when I get back. pero esta bien :) hahah we did have a GIANT storm here. We were told to go back to our apartments early because it was so bad. I loved it. The lightning was insane! We weren't even aloud to leave the church until there was a little break (because we were having a lesson with our recent converts) it was awesoooooome!

So this week I went on exchanges in Galveston. It is so pretty there! It's crazy though because the Hurricane that went through there a little bit ago really affected the area, so it can be kind of sketchy, but the people are super nice. I went with Hermana Christensen who actually was in the MTC with me. She's super cool and such a good missionary! I love her!!

English class is SO good!!! We keep having more and more people come, and we are having a baptism next week for Jaime, who we gave an English tarjeta to!! It's so cool! He's the best! So what happened with him is we were driving to a cita when I saw Jaime and I jumped out of the car and ran over and started talking to him about English class. He was so excited! and we told him we taught about Jesus Christ too, and he said he wanted to listen as well! After that we gave him the information and he started calling us all the time. We went over and taught him the Restoration and gave him a Book of Mormon and he got so into it. Sadly, we found out he was part of the other Hermanas area, so we couldn't teach him anymore, but they did such a good job and now he's getting baptized!!! What!? It's been four weeks since we first gave him the first lesson! Amazing!!! And he talks all about how when we first found him he was drunk, but he completely has changed his life around. He talks about how grateful he is that we found him. Even his friends have noticed a difference! He's the best!!! I'M SO EXCITED!!!!! I have such a testimony of English Class and OYMing :) 

Hmmmm que mas..... we helped with a 5k that was pretty fun! We found four new investigators. Sweet!!! 

OH GUESS WHAT!!!!!! WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BAPTISM THIS WEEK in our area. We don't know who, but it's going to happen :) we know it. whooooooo!!! There will be pictures after the baptism, don't worry :)

Okay now for one of our miracles!!!!! Coolest thing happened. So we promised that we wouldn't go to church unless we had one of our investigators there. (because we've been having some problems getting investigators to Church) so we made that promise and Sunday came. We had like 7 people who said they would be there, but they hadn't shown up.It hit 12:28 two minutes before Church started when Johny a recent convert called us. He said Ruben was dropping him off, but Ruben didn't want to come in. We were not going to have that of course! So we waited outside until his car pulled up. We convinced Ruben to come in to Sacrament and surprise! There was another guy with him and he just decided to come to Church too! We had 2 investigators at church that we hadn't planned one. God is the best! He basically did everything for us! And they're going to get baptized soon!!! They're super cool :) Maybe one of them will be baptized this weekend! hahah isn't that amazing!? God truly is a God of miracles. 

I love being a missionary! Times are hard and crazy, but you feel more joy bringing people into the gospel than anywhere else. I just wish everyone could have the same joy that we have, but sometimes they don't want to listen. I have learned 'rejection doesn't mean no, just not yet.' I know whatever is God's will is going to happen. We just are blessed to see what happens :) hahaha